In the late summer of Konoha Year 51, the afternoon sunlight streamed through the broad windows of the Hokage's Office, casting bright patches across the floor. Yet it could not dispel the increasingly heavy atmosphere within.
Inside the office, Konoha's new generation of powerholders had gathered. Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze sat at the head of the table, his blond hair gleaming in the light, though his brows were slightly furrowed. Beside him sat his wife, Kushina Uzumaki, heavily pregnant. Her belly, over six months along, was already quite prominent. One hand gently rested on her abdomen, but there was not the slightest trace of maternal softness on her face. Instead, her brows stood sharply raised, as if she were ready to slam the table at any moment.
The Legendary Sannin sat on either side. Jiraiya had unusually put away his carefree demeanor, holding a thick scroll with a grave expression. Tsunade sat with her arms folded, leaning back in her chair with her eyes closed as she listened; when she occasionally opened them, a sharp glint flashed within. Orochimaru lounged lazily to one side, his golden snake eyes half-lidded, an elusive and unreadable curve lingering at the corners of his mouth.
Kyohaku Uchiha sat slightly farther back, relaxed in posture. His calm gaze swept across the people present before lingering for a moment on Kushina Uzumaki's furious face. The Blood-Red Habanero... the name was well deserved. Fragments of memories from his previous life flashed through his mind. Even while carrying a child, this Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's fiery temper had not diminished in the slightest.
"That was the general situation." Jiraiya set down the scroll, his voice low. "Over in Iwagakure, that old fox Ōnoki has remained still himself, but the small-scale infiltrations and reconnaissance activities along the border have increased by